Vestibule-diaphragm for railway-cars.



E. A. SC'HREIBER. VESTIBULE DIAPHRAGM FOR RAILWAY CABS.

APPLICATION HLED OCT- 9.19l5.

VEN TOR.

A TTORNE VJ 0 o u o o a o a b /:4t:Lb//A m E. A. SCHRE|BER. VESTIBULE DIAPHRAGM FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-9.1915.

Patented Feb. 8,1916.

4 SHEETS5HEET 2 /Zj/A A TTORNE VI.

TH: cow-mu vmwoskwu C0, WASHINGTON n. c

E. A. SCHREIBER.

VESTIBULE DIAPHRAGM FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT.9. I9l5.

Patented Feb. 8,1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3 A TTORNE VJ- THE COLUMBIA PLANOURAPN C0,, WASHINGTON, n c

E. A. SCHREIBER.

VESTIBULE DIAPHRAGM FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED DDR9. EH5.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 ATTORNEY TH: comma mgloonnwl can WASHINGTON, u. c.

EDWARD A. SCHREIBER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 EGBER'I H. GOLD, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VESTIBULE-DIAPHRAGM FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

Original application filed November 24, 1914, Serial No. 873,766. Divided and this application filed October 9, 1915. Serial No. 55,001.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. SCHREI- BER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vestibule- Diaphragms for Railway-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vestibule diaphragms for railway cars, and the object of the invention is to provide a railway car diaphragm composed largely, preferably wholly, of sheet metal, which will be water and dust proof, strong and durable, light in weight, inexpensive to manufacture and install, and will have sufiicient flexibility so that the structure will accommodate itself to the various changes of position of the cars between which it is located.

The invention has for further objects such other new and improved constructions, arrangements and devices relating to sheet metal vestibule diaphragms for railway cars as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated, in certain preferred constructions, in the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the diaphragm expanded. Fig. 2" is a similar view showing the diaphragm contracted to the fullest extent. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary perspective views showing three modified constructions. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional plan taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 8 is a similar view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several figures of the drawm s.

In the drawings, 25 represents the end of the car, 26 the diaphragm face plate, and 27, 28 the usual overlapping floor plates of the vestibule.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the diaphragm consists of a plurality of panels in interlocking, collapsible relation, each panel consisting preferably, though not necessarily, of a single strip or plate of sheet metal extending around the diaphragm from side to side so as to form a part of each side and the top of the structure. In the preferred construction illus trated in these figures there are five of these panels, an end panel 29 secured by a flange 30 to the end of the car 25, another end panel 31 secured by flange to the face plate 26, and three intermediate panels 33. The inner edges of the end panels 29, 31, are bent to form, or otherwise provided with return bend folds or hooks 34 providing flanges 35 which are preferably substantially parallel with the body portions of the respective panels.

The intermediate panels 33 are bent, in each case, on two parallel longitudinal lines providing parallel plates or strips 36, 37, 38, spaced apart to form two oppositely opening recesses 39, 40. The portion of the panel which has been termed plate 36 is given a return bend at 41 to provide a flange 42. The other edge of the panel, namely, that forming plate 38, is bent upon itself at 43 providing a similar flange 44. The end panel enters the space or recess 39 of the adjacent intermediate panel, the flange 35 bearing against plate 36 when the diaphragm collapses and expands. The portion of the next adjacent intermediate panel constituted by plates 36 and 37 thereof enters the space 10 of the first mentioned intermediate panel, the relation between the other intermediate panel, the one adjacent end panel 31, and the panels with which it engages is the same in character and will be apparent from inspection particularly of Figs. '2 and 2. In each case the panels have co-engaging flat surfaces. This keeps them in proper alinement with each other. The return bend flanges on the edges of the panels by their interlocking engagement when the diaphragm is expanded prevent one panel from being pulled away from the other. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the outer plates 37, 38 of the intermediate panels are cut away at the corners of the structure. This is simply for convenience in manufacture. It would be difiicult to give the panels the right angle bend of the construction shown in these figures if the panels at the corners were three ply structures.

In Figs. 4 and 7 the structure is in the form of a pointed arch. There are only two intermediate panels 45, 46 (obviously the number might be increased or decreased as occasion requires). The outer plates or folds of the panels are cut away both at the corners 4-7 and at the point of the arch The end panels consist, in each case of two strips of metal 49, 50, formed with flanges 51, for attachment to the end of the car 25 or face plate 26 as the case may be. The purpose of this is to give a better finish and a n'iearanr-e to the inside of the diaphragm.

The construction shown in Figs. 5 and S is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. aand 7 except that the intermediate panels are three ply structures throughout.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6 the general design of the diaphragm is somewhat different. It is made up of a roof section composed of end panels 5-l and inter mediate sections 55, which panels have the same cross sectional configuration as the panels shown in the construction of Figs. 1 to 3, and of separate side sections composed, in each case, of similarly constructed and related end panels 56 and intermediate panels 57. The intermediate side panels are held in position by supporting devices in the nature of lazy tongs consisting, in each case, of a pair of links 58, pivoted at their middle point 59, the lower ends of the links being pivoted to collars 6O sliding on stanchions 61, the upper ends of the links being pivoted to collars 62 fixed to the stanchions. The roof section projects out beyond and overhangs the upper edges of the side sections.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 873,766, filed November 24, 1914:.

\Vhile I have described my invention as embodied in certain preferred constructions, it will be understood that certain modifications might be made in the construction and arrangements or the parts without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore I do not wish to be understood as limiting the invention to the particular constructions, arrangements and devices shown and described except so far as the claims are expressly so limited.

I claim:

1. A vestibule diaphragm for ra lway ears comprising a plurality of panels in collapsible arrangement, the edges of which panels are in the form of hooks providing flanges substantially parallel to the body portions of the panels respectively, the hooks on adjacent panels being adapted to interlock as and for the purpose described.

2. A vestibule diaphragm for railway cars comprising a plurality of panels in collapsible arrangement each consisting of a pair of side members joined by a top member, the edges of which panels are in the form of hooks providing flanges substantially parallel to the body portions of the panels respectively, the hooks on adjacent panels being adapted to interlock as and for the purpose described.

3. A vestibule diaphragm for railway cars comprising a plurality of panels in collapsible arrangement each consisting of a. pair of side members joined by a top member, the edges of which panels at the top and at the sides of the structure are in the form of hooks providing flanges substantially parallel to the body portions of the panels respectively, the hooks on adjacent panels being adapted to interlock as and for the purpose described.

l. A vestibule diaphragm for railway cars providing interlocking. collapsible panels, one of which consists of a sheet of metal bent twice on parallel lines to form oppositely opening recesses to receive adjacent panels.

5. A vestibule diaphragm for railway ears providing interlocking, collapsible panels, one of which consists of a sheet of metal bent twice on parallel lines to form oppositely opening recesses to receive adjacent panels, the edges of the panels being provided with eo-engaging stop flanges.

6. A vestibule diaphragm for railway cars providing interlocking. collapsible panels, one of which consists of a sheet of metal bent twice on parallel lines to form oppositely opening recesses to receive adjacent panels, the edges of which panels are in the form of return bend hooks providing flanges substantially parallel with the body portions of the panels respectively, as and for the purpose described.

7. A vestibule diaphragm for railway cars comprising a plurality of interlocking, collapsibly arranged panels, one of said panels consisting of three substantially parallel plates spaced apart, forming oppositely opening recesses to receive adjacent panels.

8. A vestibule diaphragm for railway cars comprising a plurality of interlocking, eollapsibly arranged panels, one of said panels consisting of three substantially parallel plates spaced apart, forming oppositely opening recesses to receive adjacent panels, all of said panels being formed with co-engaging stops 9. A vestibule diaphragm for railway cars comprising a plurality of interlocking, collapsibly arranged panels, one of said panels consisting of three substantially parallel plates spaced apart, forming oppositely opening recesses to receive adjacent panels, said panels being provided along their edges with co-engaging return bend flanges.

10. A vestibule diaphragm for railway cars comprising interlocking, eollapsibly arranged panels, each panel composed of side members joined by a top member, one of cars comprising end which panels consists of three parallel plates joined together and spaced apart so as to provide oppositely opening recesses to receive adjacent panels.

11. A vestibule diaphragm for railway cars comprising interlocking, collapsibly arranged panels, each panel composed of side members joined by a top member, one of which panels consists of three parallel plates joined together and spaced apart so as to provide oppositely opening recesses to receive adjacent panels, the edges of said panels at the top and sides of the structure being provided with co-engaging, return bend flanges.

12. A vestibule diaphragm for railway cars comprising end panels and one or more intermediate panels, the latter being formed, in each case, of sheet metal bent twice on parallel lines to form oppositely opening recesses to receive portions of adjacent panels.

13. A vestibule diaphragm for railway panels and one or more intermediate panels, the latter being formed, in each case, of sheet metal bent twice on parallel lines to form oppositely opening recesses to receive portions of adjacent panels, the edges of said panels being bent to form return bend hooks.

14. A vestibule diaphragm for railway cars comprising end panels formed, in each case, of a sheet of metal flanged for attachment to the end of the car or the diaphragm face plate, as the case may be, and at opposite edges with return bend flanges, and a plurality of intermediate panels each consisting of a sheet of metal bent along parallel lines so as to form three substantially parallel plates spaced apart with their edges bent to form return bend hooks.

15. In a vestibule diaphragm for railway Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the cars, the combination of end panels flanged for attachment to the end of the car and the diaphragm face plate respectively, and comprising, in each case, a sheet of metal forming a part of the sides and top of the diaphragm with its inner edge provided with a return bend flange; and a plurality of intermediate panels each extending around both sides of the top of the diaphragm and consisting of a single thickness of metal at the corners of the structure and of three spaced, substantially parallel plates at the top and sides of the structure, which plates are spaced apart and provide oppositely opening recesses for portions of adjacent panels.

16. In a vestibule diaphragm for railway cars, the combination of end panels consisting, in each case, of two parallel sheets of metal spaced apart, extending continuously around the sides and top of the structure and flanged for attachment to the end of the car or the diaphragm face plate, as the case may be, one of said sheets of metal being formed on its inner edge with a return bend flange; and a plurality of intermediate panels consisting, in each case, of a sheet of metal bent on parallel lines so as to form three substantially parallel plates extending continuously around the ends and sides of the structure, the edges of said intermediate panels being provided with return bent flanges.

17. In a vestibule diaphragm for railway cars, the combination of side sections each consisting of collapsible, interlocking panels and a roof section which extends over and below the upper edges of the side sections consisting also of collapsible, interlocking panels.

EDWARD A. SCHBEIBER.

Commissioner 0! Patents,

Washington, D. G." 

